The future begins with science
…is the slogan of 2011 European Union Contest for Young Scientists. On Monday evening, the future scientists competing in EUCYS tried their luck, skills and knowledge in the Amazing Race of Sciences.
“What should I do with my life?” was the question raised by the Dean of University of Helsinki’s Faculty of Science, Keijo Hämäläinen, when the contestants visited Kumpula Science Campus on Monday after the Jury interviews.
Every year, Hämäläinen lectures to first-year students facing this question in the beginning of their studies, and he felt that most of the EUCYS contestants are in a similar situation.
“Most of you haven’t made the decision yet, what kind of science to study,” Hämäläinen addressed the contestants, but stressed that every one of them will be successful despite which university or discipline they will choose.
Later, after M. Lennholms lecture on nuclear fusion, the contestants got a taste of possible alternatives in the playful Amazing Race of Science on the premises of Departments of Chemistry, Physics, and Mathematics and Statistics.
Sandra Dusolt fueling the fuel-cell. Photo: Janne Salo.
After dark, the three buildings hid six workshops and six fake points. Using a map, the contestants had to in teams find four actual workshops and complete the tasks in them.
At the workshops, the teams got to fuel up and race a fuel-cell car, solve a genetics-related problem, use GPS receiver, study electron beams and spectrums, solve a polygonal network problem, and build free-standing objects with marshmallow on top, using only 20 pieces of spaghetti, one metre of string, and one metre of tape…
Tomorrow, the winner will of EUCYS be announced at the Great Hall of the University of Helsinki. Earlier today, the Jury did to final rounds of interviews to base their decision on.
MyScience will offer news, videos and photos from the 23rd European Union Contest for Young Scientists during the event. Check out also MyScience on Flickr and Vimeo.
Are you EUCYS 2011 participant? Now it’s your chance to get your research published in a peer-reviewed journal. Read more about European Journal for Young Scientists and Engineers.
Elisa Lautala works as web editor for University of Helsinki's Faculty of Science. Elisa likes all kinds of cultural events, good books, warm weather, and aqua-jogging.